On marijuana and other issues, Denney leans libertarian

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Independence Party congressional candidate John Denney favors a Colorado-style approach to marijuana legalization.

It's one of many libertarian stances taken by Denney, a candidate in Minnesota's 6th Congressional District. Yet Denney says he's more pragmatic than some other libertarians and takes a different tack on campaign finance reform, which he champions.

In April, the Independence Party endorsed Denney for the 6th District seat. He's a 28-year-old law student from Stacy who hasn't held or run for other elected offices.

But Denney, a St. Cloud State University graduate, says youth and inexperience won't keep him from mounting a vigorous run in the 6th District.

Sartell Mayor Joe Perske is the DFL nominee to succeed outgoing Rep. Michele Bachmann in the 6th District. The 2010 Republican nominee for governor, Tom Emmer, and Anoka County Board chair Rhonda Sivarajah are squaring off in a primary to decide the GOP nominee.

Denney is a self-described conservative who says he identifies in some ways with the libertarian wing of the GOP. He supported former Congressman Ron Paul's bid for president in 2012.

read like a libertarian wish list. He wants to reduce the federal government's role in education, curb NSA surveillance, implement a flat income tax and end what he describes as governmental interference in the free market.

But Denney says there are several reasons he's with the Independence Party. One is that he feels some libertarians aren't reasonable or pragmatic enough.

"Sometimes the Democrats have a good idea, and it's OK to support that," Denney said.

Denney also parts ways with libertarians and Republicans on what he describes as one of his key issues: campaign finance reform. He decries recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings in the Citizens United and McCutcheon cases. The rulings, which effectively struck down limits on campaign donations, are allowing the ultra-wealthy and large corporations to hijack the political process, Denney says.

"Unfettered access to funding for our campaigns is creating a situation where the people are in no way represented," Denney said.

Then there's the issue of marijuana legalization, on which Denney actually is toeing the party line. Full legalization is part of the Independence Party platform.

Denney says it should be up to states how to handle marijuana. But if elected to Congress, he says he'd push to remove the drug from the Schedule 1 portion of the federal controlled substances act — the part reserved for drugs deemed to have no medical use.

Denney says it's clear marijuana has medical value for some and isn't a dangerous drug in general. More than that, he describes marijuana legalization as a liberty issue.

"The government does not own my body," Denney said. "The drug war has not lessened the drug abuse at all. We've made no dent in it. It's about as good as the Democratic war on poverty."

Keep up with Central Minnesota politics in the Political Quarry, www.sctimes.com/politicalquarry. Follow Times political reporter Mark Sommerhauser on Twitter @msommerhauser.